It's hard to achieve inner peace with crippling stomach pains. Luckily for one group of Tibetan monks fate has brought a solution to their endemic problem, which may finally cure an ancient affliction.

Helicobacter Pylori, the bacterium that causes stomach ulcers, is endemic in poor countries. If it's not treated it can eventually cause stomach cancer. Nearly 80% of Tibet's 100,000 monks are infected, some for 20 years. But during the course of this film, a chance encounter offers a lifeline. "It's amazing. For $200 we can test, we can treat and we can change lives."

This is great to know actually! I have many friends who struggle with what they call "gastric" problems.

In order to ensure my mind never comes under the power of the self-cherishing attitude,I must obtain control over my own mind. Therefore, amongst all empowerments, the empowerment that gives me control over my mind is the best,and I have received the most profound empowerment with this teaching.-Atisha Dipamkarabrtsal ba'i bkhra drin

I had gastric ulcers as a consequence of h pylori (three weeks of intense antibiotics in the winter of 2007-08 I was on the mend). My mom had ulcers too but they treated her with antacids rather than antibiotics; she died of stomach cancer in December, 2002. maybe I got the bug from her?

I'm glad these monks' experience will be more like mine and less like my mom's.

The story is now well known but for anyone to whom it is unfamiliar it was assumed that the causes of peptic ulcers were stress and/or poor diet. Certainly the condition is worsened by these factors, and by smoking ...But the cause remained elusive until it was discovered by two Australian physicians Barry Mitchell and Robin Warren who showed that the real culprit was the Heliobacter bacterium.Mitchell actually induced ulcers in himself by drinking a solution laced with the bacterium.At first their finding were resisted..but now antibiotics are seen as THE response to stomach ulcers.Previously suffers had decades of pain and quite frequently needed surgery to repair damaged tissue, which as Jikan says in a proportion of cases led on to cancerous lesions.One of a number of recent advances in Health Care that we all might have occasion to be grateful for.Like the advances in surgical care which mean that appendectomies and even hysterectomies are now frequently day surgery cases. i.e. people go home the same day.

Simon E. wrote:The story is now well known but for anyone to whom it is unfamiliar it was assumed that the causes of peptic ulcers were stress and/or poor diet. Certainly the condition is worsened by these factors, and by smoking ...But the cause remained elusive until it was discovered by two Australian physicians Barry Mitchell and Robin Warren who showed that the real culprit was the Heliobacter bacterium.Mitchell actually induced ulcers in himself by drinking a solution laced with the bacterium.